Comments on: Frugal and Creative Christmas (or other) Gifts http://frugalhacks.com/2009/12/04/frugal-creative-christmas-gifts/ Good stewardship in action. How do you do it? Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:10:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: DeputyHeadmistress http://frugalhacks.com/2009/12/04/frugal-creative-christmas-gifts/comment-page-1/#comment-5741 DeputyHeadmistress Mon, 07 Dec 2009 23:57:33 +0000 http://frugalhacks.com/?p=1650#comment-5741 Jennifer, we have been very blessed in the thrift shops around us every where we have lived. It does pay in the long run to take the time to shop around. I would just make extra time to go look at different thrift shops the next time or two you're in the 'Big City.' Once you've looked around and seen what they typically have to offer, pick one or two near each other (or near where you have to run errands) and plan some extra time to run into the thrift shop whenever you're in town. Stacy, what a fun Christmas present! And yes, it's rather frustrating seeing how effective marketing to children is. We haven't had television at all since sometime around 1990 (for five years before that it was one English speaking channel only), and it was enlightening to see how the gimmee-gimmees went down- even for the grown ups. Jennifer, we have been very blessed in the thrift shops around us every where we have lived. It does pay in the long run to take the time to shop around. I would just make extra time to go look at different thrift shops the next time or two you’re in the ‘Big City.’ Once you’ve looked around and seen what they typically have to offer, pick one or two near each other (or near where you have to run errands) and plan some extra time to run into the thrift shop whenever you’re in town.

Stacy, what a fun Christmas present! And yes, it’s rather frustrating seeing how effective marketing to children is. We haven’t had television at all since sometime around 1990 (for five years before that it was one English speaking channel only), and it was enlightening to see how the gimmee-gimmees went down- even for the grown ups.

]]> By: Stacy @ Moderate Means http://frugalhacks.com/2009/12/04/frugal-creative-christmas-gifts/comment-page-1/#comment-5739 Stacy @ Moderate Means Sat, 05 Dec 2009 20:48:15 +0000 http://frugalhacks.com/?p=1650#comment-5739 Excellent list! One of my favorites on there is Christmas decorations. When someone gets engaged before Christmas with plans to marry after, I shop the 90% of sale at Target and am able to get so much for so little. One year, several of us when in together and for $44 (total) we bought a large tree, skirt, stockings, lights, glass bulbs, garland, everything. It was unique and I didn't have to worry about duplicates since it was a June wedding ;) We canceled everything but basic cable earlier this year and I'm amazed at the difference in the gimmes in the house. Without access to those kid-focused channels, there is so little pressure on my children to ask us to buy specific, expensive toys. It's wonderful. Stacy Excellent list! One of my favorites on there is Christmas decorations. When someone gets engaged before Christmas with plans to marry after, I shop the 90% of sale at Target and am able to get so much for so little. One year, several of us when in together and for $44 (total) we bought a large tree, skirt, stockings, lights, glass bulbs, garland, everything. It was unique and I didn’t have to worry about duplicates since it was a June wedding ;)

We canceled everything but basic cable earlier this year and I’m amazed at the difference in the gimmes in the house. Without access to those kid-focused channels, there is so little pressure on my children to ask us to buy specific, expensive toys. It’s wonderful.

Stacy

]]> By: Jennifer http://frugalhacks.com/2009/12/04/frugal-creative-christmas-gifts/comment-page-1/#comment-5738 Jennifer Sat, 05 Dec 2009 08:48:41 +0000 http://frugalhacks.com/?p=1650#comment-5738 What are your tips for finding a good thrift shop? All of the ones local to me are the same price as Wal-Mart and Target for most of their stuff, and mostly not in a very good condition so in that case why not buy new? (Although adding to the landfills isn't good, and I understand that, this IS a frugal blog, not a green one.) I do make trips into the "big city" occasionally, and I know there are probably more offerings there. How do you know whether it will offer better prices than the box stores? Is it just a case of trial and error? What are your tips for finding a good thrift shop? All of the ones local to me are the same price as Wal-Mart and Target for most of their stuff, and mostly not in a very good condition so in that case why not buy new? (Although adding to the landfills isn’t good, and I understand that, this IS a frugal blog, not a green one.) I do make trips into the “big city” occasionally, and I know there are probably more offerings there. How do you know whether it will offer better prices than the box stores? Is it just a case of trial and error?

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